Thanks, Rekha

Rekha found my blog inspiring and decided to honour me with an award.  I don’t want to be ungrateful.  So let me fulfil the obligations imposed by the honour.

I am to state 7 things about myself and that’s one of the easiest things I can do since I have a fairly inflated ego. 

1.     The biggest challenge I face day in and day out is to keep my ego under control.  It is like an elephant that loses its self-control for no fault of its own.

2.     I love to make friends but never succeed in the attempts because of my own personal limitations.  So I choose to be contented with virtual friends ranging from Dostoevsky to Mario Vargas Llosa as well as quite a few bloggers.

3.     I have very few prejudices in spite of the numerous allegations to the contrary (that I am a highly prejudiced person) and I cling to those prejudices tenaciously.  In spite of those prejudices, I am more broadminded and open to new ideas and possibilities than my well-wishers may be willing to grant.

4.     I am an armchair critic.  I would like to be more than that.  For example, I would like to move out of the beaten track and do something real for the poor and oppressed people of the country who are always victims of false promises and dubious policies irrespective of which party is in power.  But my own personal drawbacks and lack of courage keep me pinned to the cosy chair of the critic.  The position gives me as much gratification as the seats in the Parliament must be giving to the eminent leaders of the people.

5.     I love teaching.  It is an extension of the armchair critic’s job.  Youngsters are easy to work with in more ways than the ever-busy parents and school administrators are willing to accept.

6.     I dream a lot.  I am a romantic at heart.  I could put to shame Keats and Shelley if I were to write down my dreams in lines like “A thing of beauty is a joy forever” or “The more we study, the more we discover our ignorance.”

7.     The romantic dreamer within me is mercifully suppressed by the diehard cynic.  The constant rivalry between them has been a tremendous learning experience for me though not always funny.

Rekha, my gratitude to you wears out the moment I look at the next obligation entailed.  There are too many inspiring bloggers.  And you’re asking me to list just 15!

Well, let me exercise my judiciousness to the best of my abilities and intentions.

Here is my constellation for now. (In an absolutely random order)

1.     Frozen Moments – Indrani inspires with delightful photos.

2.     Inspire99 – Vinay has taken it on himself as a duty to inspire the world and he is successful.

3.     I News India – Alok Vats is another blogger who has taken upon himself the onerous task of inspiring the world.

4.     Scattered Thoughts – Maniparna Sengupta Majumder has a uniquely ingenuous way of inspiring and enlightening.

5.     I am – Amrita Sabat is on the eternal path to discover her boundless potential offering us some valuable glimpses in the process. Amrita, I must tell you that I found some of your comments on my posts highly encouraging.

6.     Mumbai Daily brings alive the metropolis before our eyes with vivid and telling pictures.

7.     Random Photography – Deepa has an amazing talent with the pictures.

8.     Words – Saru’s poetry is a world of inspiration.

9.     Tirta’s Travel Blog – something I stumbled upon recently

10.                        Sunshine n Blue Clouds – Kokila has the freshness of the dawn and the blue skies

11.                        You and I – Uppal has the wisdom of experience.

12.                        Creofire won’t need any endorsement from me, I’m sure.

13.                        Firoze Shakir is a marvel for me in numerous ways.  Here’s one whose heart is steeped in poetry.

14.                        A-Musing – Purba is sheer delight.  The magic of words and humour.

15.                        Rajesh Prabhu is a versatile blogger who inspires in triple ways.

Rekha, I know I have not abided by the entire process.  Forgive me.  Time permits only this much.  Thank you once again for making me do this much.